I hope this helps when comparing payg sim cards' costs:

per min to landlines / per min to mobiles / per text / per min to 0845/0800/0870

Asda mobile: 8p/8p/4p/?

Tesco Mobile: 20p/20p/10p/?

Lyca Mobile: 5p/10p/9p/25p

Lebara: 10p/10p/10p/10p

The last two are difficult to beat for international calls. I know that a lot of the main providers make things more complicated by charging a lot and then giving away "free" minutes. Personally I prefer things to be uncomplicated.

It is also worth knowing, for anyone considering a new phone for a payg deal, that most handsets from Carphone Warehouse are not locked to any particular network although they generally come with one network's sim card on which you buy £10 credit with the phone.

many thanks for the all the comments i received.

MSM.COM still does not offer the facility to compare providers prices - when KEEPING an existing phone - this needs remedying soon !!

Why does virtually every site appear to think that if we are looking for a new phone contract - that we are looking for a new phone ?

Hi immi472,

Sorry for not getting back to you so soon, I havent ever had a problem with Virgin network as i believe its piggybacked on the t-mobile network which is really good. I know a fair few people with Virgin phones aswell as sim deals, as they do good deals on phones and sims. I tend to stick to their sim only deals as you only have a 30 day contract, as i hate being tied into lengthy 12-18 month contracts.

Dear maxsteam - many thanks for this useful advice.

I agree that, if you're only spending £10 per month, pay as you go is a good option to look at. ASDA are best for texts (4p each), Lyca are best if you call landlines (5p per minute) and Lebara are best if you call 0845/0870/0800 numbers (10p per minute). I've got one of each. With payg, you don't worry about making a payment each month or using all your minutes as you do with contracts. You just get the sim and an unlocked phone and, as long as you make at least one call every 6 months, you stay connected. If you get annoyed with the network, you aren't tied in - you just use up your credit, throw the sim away and get another (or get the PAC and keep the number).

Hi Mr Spoke

thanks for your reply. i like your advice but i am bit concerned using virgin as never heard anyone in my friends or family using virgin. did you ever have have any problem with reception. let me know pls.

Hi immi472

I am with virgin mobile, on their sim only deals, these are brilliant as you only have a 30 contract so you can swap and change as much as you like, they now do a 200 minutes and unlimited text offer for £10 a month, bargain, I was on this, but increased it to their more recent £18 which is 300 mins, unlimited texts and internet use on my phone ! i think the £10 a month offer is only available though till the end of this month so be quick you can find their deals at their website.

Tmobile do a £10 unlimited txt sim

Asda mobile do the best pay as you go rates if you're interested.

i am currently looking for a £10 sim only deal. my fixed term contract with orange is gona expire soon. i require approx 250 min and 150 text messages per month. yesterday, orange has offered me 200 min and 200 text message with £10 per month sim only deal. i hadn't negotiate as this one looked quite alright to me. can i go ahead with this deal or would you suggest me any other better deal with another network provider. would really appreciate your early reply. regards and thanks for reading.